VARIO Shanghai Flagship Store | Yuan Shi Design | Shanghai, China

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Elegant modern living room with contemporary furniture, stylish lighting and elements of hidden design; interior architecture focused on luxury and minimalist decor

A New Chapter in Haipai Modernism

At the heart of Shanghai, VARIO Shanghai Flagship Store by Yuan Shi Design embodies the spirit of the city — where Eastern heritage meets Western modernity. Spanning 1700 square meters, this flagship showroom transcends traditional retail space. It becomes a cultural experience reimagining Haipai elegance for the 21st century.

Lead designer Yuan Junlun leads an interdisciplinary team that combines art, architecture, and interior design to express Shanghai's dual identity: cosmopolitan yet deeply rooted in Chinese tradition. The result is a poetic space where craftsmanship, light, and emotion intertwine.

Redefining Haipai Elegance for the Modern World

The culture of Haipai — a centuries-old synthesis of East and West in Shanghai — forms the philosophical foundation of the design. The spatial history of the showroom embraces neo-orientalism, not as imitation but as reinterpretation. Interiors recreate the grandeur of Shanghai's golden age, expressed through soft curves, muted palettes, and sculptural forms.

Antique lacquering techniques meet modern finishes, while light filters through curved ceilings and textured glass, creating a sense of calm immersion. The space simultaneously honors traditions and pushes design forward — an architectural dialogue between nostalgia and innovation.

Sculptural Art and the Poetry of Light

At the center of the showroom stands Lines, a light installation by artist Zhang Lipin, using light as its medium. Suspended in air, these unusual floating lines bring life to the surrounding architecture, transforming space into a living work of art.

Zhuguang Lighting designed the lighting system to accentuate every texture and contour. Linear light strips follow ceiling and furniture outlines, highlighting the sculptural rhythm of the interior. This interplay of light and shadow creates a constantly evolving visual experience — an essential part of the showroom's story of discovery.

Design for the Future: Imagination and Reflection

The spatial composition of the showroom invites visitors to imagine their ideal living spaces. Rounded corners and flowing forms evoke psychological comfort, while modular zones integrate living, dining, and study areas, demonstrating functional adaptability of future lifestyles.

High-quality materials — solid wood, marble, leather, and soft fabrics — were chosen for their tactile warmth and visual sophistication. The design team, including Fan Jian, Xue Zhao, and Yao Feng, crafted each surface to evoke feelings. The result is an interior that feels both luxurious and grounded, balancing grandeur with moderation.

Modern Life with Cultural Nuance

The Western kitchen is positioned in one of the central areas, featuring an individual island that subtly incorporates the initial letter 'V' of VARIO. This detail reinforces brand identity while maintaining aesthetic integrity. Adjacent to it, a vinyl wine cellar, softly lit and finished with textured stone, exudes understated luxury.

Arched corridors and contemplative nooks reimagine Chinese spatial concepts through a modern lens. Each space is functional and emotional, encouraging exploration and reflection. The blend of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary furniture from Italian brands such as VALENTINI, Airnova, and GERVASONI creates an elegant international dialogue.

The Flow of Space: Hidden Sanctuary

One of the most distinctive features of the flagship store is a long layered corridor, inspired by classical Chinese garden pathways. Serving as a connector and pause point, it links key spaces — the study room, bedroom, and living room — while offering curated views along its path.

The rhythm of the corridor, with its compression and expansion, echoes the poetic cadence of traditional architecture, guiding visitors through a sequence of discoveries. Natural stone, soft fabrics, and semi-transparent partitions create a balanced interaction between hardness and lightness, forming an urban sanctuary that embodies motion and stillness.

A Festival of Craftsmanship, Culture, and Modern Design

More than a retail environment, VARIO Shanghai Flagship Store is an immersive cultural installation. It expresses how contemporary Chinese design can embrace global aesthetics without losing authenticity. Through tactile materials, choreographed lighting, and spatial narrative, the project transforms a commercial space into an artistic journey.

As a collaborative effort between Yuan Shi Design and renowned partners such as Zhuguang Lighting and Hezi Design, the showroom demonstrates a new model of design synergy — where architecture becomes experience, and experience becomes culture.

Conclusion

VARIO Shanghai Flagship Store is more than a showroom; it's a festival of evolving Shanghai identity — refined, cosmopolitan, and deeply human. By blending Haipai elegance with minimalist modernism, Yuan Shi Design has created a space that transcends time and geography, offering visitors a vision of modern life rooted in cultural memory and artistic innovation.

Photos © Yuan Shi Design VARIO Shanghai Flagship Store | Yuan Shi Design | Shanghai, China

VARIO Shanghai Flagship Store is more than a showroom — it's a journey through light, culture, and modern design. Blending Haipai elegance with contemporary luxury, it invites visitors to experience the fusion of tradition and innovation, creating a space where art and everyday life are celebrated together.

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